The Average Day of a First Time Mum
By Aimee on
How has it already been 3 months? Feels like just yesterday I gave birth to my little girl and yet it has been 3 months! Where does that time go? you know the saying kids grow up so fast? Well I think they have this magical ability to mess with time. I think they also have a siphon system that taps into your energy and fuels them instead. But let’s get back to time. What can I say about my average day. It used to look very different. I would set an alarm, get up at seven. leisurely eat breakfast, shower, dress and head to work. spend my time there thinking of the things that needed doing and tasks I needed to complete. I would then head home, have a wonderful dinner cooked for me, cuddle on the couch and watch a show or movie then we’d go to bed. Weekends would be spent sleeping in and doing things in our own time. Fast forward to now and this is what my days look like.
6:30am (roughly) ow! my boobs are leaking… better go get my girl who is usually happily awake in the crib waiting for me to pick her up. I pick her up, take off her nappy and give her some naked time. Put on my first load of washing for the day (we use cloth nappies so theres some yucky clean up). I then make myself some breakfast, organise my pump parts, pray I’ve cleaned the bottles for the day (I forget sometimes) then go put a clean nappy on her. I then simultaneously eat breakfast, feed her and check facebook. Or watch copious amounts of vampire diaries or another terrible terrible tv show. After that I pump whilst entertaining her with her Owl friend or other toy (but lets face it, she only has eyes for owl friend at the moment) After that it’s Daddy’s turn! whilst I shower. Usually some play time on the mat and then Daddy is off for the day. It is now 7:30⁄8:00 and she starts to whine for a nap. So we go lie down together.
9:30 Well it’s feeding time again! that cam around fast. I breastfeed till she’s frustrated then change her nappy organise her bottle and pray she doesn’t get too grumpy when I feed her. She can be very determined not to drink from her bottle as boobies are much better even though they run out of milk and make her grumpy. Then I pump again because breast milk is liquid gold and I like to give her one top up a day that’s my milk. At this point we might go out for the day, to the shops or have Nanny over or just sit and play together. We might even nap together or she might be very happy on her mat and I clean something (It took me two days to clean the bathroom but I got it done!). The thing with her is she doesn’t like to sleep in her crib during the day. I might get 10 minutes or half an hour if I’m truly lucky but if she’s in her wrap or just with me we can go over an hour. I don’t get a lot done but I do get special cuddle time. Somewhere in this time slot I also like to eat lunch…. if I’m lucky. It usually consists of a peanut butter and jam sandwich.
12:30-1:30 Omg it’s feeding time again. So we repeat feed, change, bottle, pump, play, cuddle, nap, facebook, facebook, facebook, low battery.
4:30 - Again feed, change etc. Then Daddy’s home! Yay we love Daddy being home. Another adult human for Mummy to talk to! How was your day? What did you do at work? We did this this and this today. Did you notice I did the (Insert some type of cleaning done here)? Then after some quiet time for Daddy after his busy day he makes dinner. I usually get to eat it when it’s warm which is good and if she’s in a good mood she will be on her mat or if not I will eat one handed and in a hurry. You learn to shovel food and not breath between mouthfuls. It is quite a skill. If it is bath night (every other night) we do this after dinner. Bath time consists of lots of crying and screaming.
7:30 - Final feed. Hey do you want to watch a movie? The reply always tends to be, if she lets us. Sometimes we will read, watch a TV show, talk, organise our next Dungeons and Dragons adventure (or at the moment Starfinder for those that know what that is). By the time she goes to bed it could be anywhere from 8:00 - 10:00 depending on her. Sometimes she goes to bed already asleep, sometimes she’s awake but quiet and sometimes shes some where in the middle. We’re pretty lucky that she’s been sleeping through for a few weeks now but I am preparing myself for that to change a the drop of the hat because babies aren’t really that predictable. I’ve heard of the age old dilemma of have some ‘me’ time or go to sleep. Normally sleep wins out but occasionally ‘me’ time happens and it is much needed. But also I’m so involved in her life that I don’t know what to do with free time.
So as I write this I sit here after her 9:30 feed with her in the wrap asleep. Our day varies slightly because we are going to our first parent group which will be nice. I will just have to bring a million things to walk out the door but at least I will leave my four walls today. They say being a mum is one of the hardest jobs in the world but they don’t always say why. It’s because it’s isolating and all consuming. You are no longer just thinking about what you want to do in life you think about everything your child needs and constantly questioning whether you are doing a good enough job. Is she getting enough Tummy Time, is her head getting flat? is she gaining enough weight? is she meeting her milestones? what more could I do? Am I cuddling her too much? should I put her down more? Then there’s other pressures you put on yourself like, is the house clean enough? god I feel so fat and un-sexy! I just want all my old clothes to fit. plus numerous other things. These things go through every new mums head. I know because I have a wonderful support group on facebook and we are there for each other. No question is a stupid question. Then you get a smile, a squeal of delight, a new skill and think, yes. Everything is worth it. The tears, the frustrations, the monotony, everything. It’s the hardest thing but it’s the biggest love.